Gilbert “Gil” Shepard Jackson

Gilbert “Gil” Shepard Jackson, 87, of Blue Springs, Missouri passed away on Sunday, December 24, 2017, at the VA Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, December 29, 2017, at the First Baptist Church, 100 W. Hwy 00, Odessa, MO, 64076. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Friday, December 29, 2017, at the church. Burial with Military Rites will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, December 29, 2017, at the Missouri State Veteran Cemetery in Higginsville, MO. Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church in Odessa, MO. Memories and condolences to the family may be left at www.ralphojones.com or on our Facebook Page. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524.

Gil was born on November 8, 1930, in Lubbock, Texas to Gilbert Parker and Jennie Lou (Shepard) Jackson. Gil graduated high school in Odessa, Texas. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and served in Korea during the Korean War. Gil received injuries there and was hospitalized in Japan & not expected to live. If he lived he was not expected to ever walk again. He returned to the U.S. flat on his back but was not kept down. He survived, walked, ran, played golf and tennis. Gil graduated from Odessa College in Odessa, Texas and received a B.S. from the University of Houston. Gil played professional baseball in 1950 having signed with the Cincinnati Reds and played in the minor leagues with the Odessa Oilers, Tyler Roses, and San Antonio Missions. He retired after 28 years of service from Schill Steel Company in Texas. During his career, he started as a Sales Representative in Houston, Area Manager in San Antonio, District Manager in Dallas and Executive Vice President of Operations in Houston. On May 31, 1987, Gil married Ruth (Robertson) Jackson at Round Grove Church in Lewisville, Texas. In 1992, Gil and Ruth moved to Marlow, Oklahoma. In Marlow he was active in the Republican Party, Marlow Lions Club, Marlow Samaritans, Friends of the Library, Marlow Library Board and the Sunday School Department of the First Baptist Church. In January 2014, Gil and Ruth moved from Marlow to Blue Springs, MO to be near family. They joined the First Baptist Church in Odessa, MO.

Gil is survived by his wife, Ruth Jackson of Blue Springs, MO; four children, Marc Jackson and wife, Nancy Rose of Salt Lake City Utah; Mike Jackson of Austin, Texas; Laura Robertson and husband, Randy of Parker, Texas; and Jill Hawkins of Napoleon, MO; 14 grandchildren; two brothers, Jim Jackson and wife, June of Huntsville, Texas; and Bob Jackson and wife, Jean Ann of Madison, Mississippi.

In addition to his parents, Gil was preceded in death by a sister, Mallie Lou Jackson-Shaw.